Fred Harold Hale Sr., the world’s oldest man, died in his sleep on Nov. 19. He was 113.
Born on Dec. 1, 1890, in New Sharon, Maine, Hale delivered mail by train from Boston to Bangor for 39 years. Although he retired from the postal service in 1957, Hale lived up to his name by gardening, hunting, traveling and beekeeping. When he was 107, a local news crew filmed him shoveling the snow off his roof.
The Guinness World Records acknowledged Hale as the oldest living man in March. He held the record for being the world’s oldest driver as well. Hale attributed his longevity to heredity — both of his parents lived into their 90s — and to eating a teaspoon of bee pollen every day. A lifelong fan of the Boston Red Sox, he lived long enough to watch the team win the World Series in 1918 and 2004.
Hale resided in Maine for 109 years, then moved to Syracuse, N.Y., to be near his 82-year-old son, Fred Jr. He outlived his wife Flora, who died in 1979, and three of his five children. The supercentenarian also had nine grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and 11 great-great-grandchildren.
November 20, 2004 by
Fred Hale
Categories: Extraordinary People
I am one of the nine great grandchildren mentioned in the obituary. My great grandfather lived a spectacular life in all respects. He never sat still for long, and was constantly engaged in a productive activity. I still have honey that he collected years ago from his bees. We will miss him very much.
eating Honey really does work to health?
ha,i have the habit of eating honey everyday,also love swimming,but i think the gene is the most important fot long life.
I knew Fred when we both lived in South Portland Maine in the late seventies.
He was the person that sparked my interest in beekeeping, I visited quite a few times talking about beekeeping mostly. I remember him as having a slight build but very strong and wiry, he could carry the heavy supers full of honey down cellar with no problem at all. Through his interest in bees I started beekeeping myself.
We had lunch together a few times I enjoyed his company and conversation.
Congratulations on a long life and my regards to his family, you are very lucky to have had him for so long.
I also met Fred Hale in South Portland, ME in the late 70s. I was young, 6 or so. He lived close to my grandparents, and my father would take me and my brother along when he visited with Mr. Hale. I remember his bees and garden well.
It sounds like he lived an amazing life. I’m happy to have met him.